Suspicious fire prompts RCMP call for help

Although the Holyrood RCMP detachment says it doesn’t want to alarm the public, it’s not ruling out the possibility that a series of structure fires in the Harbour Main-Avondale-Conception Harbour area are linked.

RCMP

“A lot of the times, the cause is undetermined,” said Cpl. Trevor O’Keefe. “When you have a house fire, a lot of the evidence is destroyed. Really, what we’re looking at here now is that we’re trying to see if there’s a link to all these fires.”

Volunteer firefighters and police responded to a fire Tuesday at an unoccupied home in Conception Harbour. RCMP have labelled the blaze suspicious.

In a news release issued Wednesday, the RCMP said it was investigating a number of structure fires in the area that occurred over the last few months. O’Keefe said the circumstances surrounding those fires have varied, but most involved empty houses that were either vacant or unoccupied.

There is also a barn fire in the area under investigation.

“It hasn’t been places where people have been living. Others have had power connected, others have not.”

Officers with the Holyrood detachment are working with Fire and Emergency Services — Newfoundland and Labrador.

“We don’t want to alarm anybody, but we’re really digging deep and trying to find out what the heck is on the go out there,” said O’Keefe.

“We’re looking for the public’s help. Keep your eyes open. Keep your ears to the ground. If you see anything, call us, because of course we can’t be everywhere all the time.”

Anyone with information about the fires is asked to contact the Holyrood detachment at 229-3892 or Crime Stoppers and 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) and online at www.nlcrimestoppers.com.